Plastic card transport apparatus and inspection system

ABSTRACT

A plastic card transport apparatus and a plastic card inspection system. A group of lower support wheels is positioned with their circumferential surfaces aligned to define a card transport path having a plurality of card operation locations therealong. The wheels support a plastic card by its lower edge as the plastic card is transported along the card transport path from a first one of the card operation locations to a second one of the card operation locations. A drive source continuously drives selected ones of the lower support wheels to move the plastic card along the card transport path between card operation locations. A controller is responsive to a control signal to drive a selected one of the lower support wheel members, adjacent a first one of the card operation locations, to move the plastic card along the card transport path from that first one of the card operation locations to an adjacent one of the continuously driven lower support wheels, to transport the plastic card to a second one of the card operation locations. The plastic card inspection system includes such a plastic card transport apparatus to transport the plastic cards from a plastic card input location to a plastic card inspection location for inspection, and then to a plastic card output location selected on the basis of the inspection results. The cards are discharged to a tray having a fiber material on its side surfaces to align the cards as they are discharged.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to a plastic card transport apparatus andto a plastic card inspection system including such plastic cardtransport apparatus. More particularly, the present invention pertainsto a plastic card transport apparatus and plastic card inspection systemin which plastic cards are supported by one edge as they are transportedfrom a card input location to a card inspection location for inspectionand then to a card output location at which the inspected plastic cardis discharged from the plastic card transport apparatus. The card outputlocation is selected from a plurality of card output locations on thebasis of the inspection results.

Plastic cards are increasingly used as a means of personalidentification and in commerce. By way of examples, many organizationsissue plastic identification cards to their members to indicatemembership in the organization. Credit cards and automatic tellermachine cards likewise are often plastic cards. The front face of such aplastic card often has writing and a logo on it, and frequently also ahologram. The rear face frequently has a magnetic strip and a signaturepanel and may also have a bar code. Such plastic cards generally conformwith the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) StandardCR80.

The manufacture of such plastic cards is generally automated. However,inspection of each card is necessary to assure that the card complieswith the ISO CR80 Standard and has a clean front surface with properwriting, a proper logo and a proper hologram and a clean back surfacewith a proper magnetic strip, signature panel, and bar code area. Suchplastic cards are widely used, and so are manufactured in large numbers.At present, automated inspection of each card is seldom used because itrequires expensive, complex equipment and because of difficulty intransporting the plastic cards through the inspection system. Automatedinspection equipment is becoming more economical and easier to use.Nevertheless, automated inspection of plastic cards is still not widelydone because of difficulty in transporting the cards through theinspection system. If the plastic cards are transported from the cardinput location, past the card inspection location and to a card outputlocation by supporting the cards on one of their faces, there is adanger of damaging the card surface. Consequently, such plastic cardsare most often inspected manually at present. However, manual inspectionis slow and too often inaccurate. Not only is it subjective, but itbecomes repetitive and boring for the inspectors, who might have theirattention drawn away by nearby distractions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a plastic card transport apparatus in which theplastic cards are supported on one edge while being transported from onecard operation location to another card operation location. The presentinvention is also a plastic card inspection system, including plasticcard transport apparatus for transporting plastic cards from a cardinput location, to a card inspection location for inspection, and thento a card output location selected from a plurality of card outputlocations on the basis of the inspection results.

In accordance with the present invention a plastic card transportapparatus includes a plurality of lower support wheel members which arepositioned with their circumferential surfaces aligned to define a cardtransport path. A plurality of card operation locations are positionedalong the card transport path. The lower support wheel members supporteach plastic card by a lower edge of the card as the plastic card istransported along the card transport path from a first one of the cardoperation locations to a second one of the card operation locations. Anupper retaining means is positioned above the lower support wheelmembers to engage an upper edge of the plastic card. The upper retainingmeans cooperates with the lower support wheel members to retain theplastic card supported on the lower support wheel members as the plasticcard is transported along the card transport path. A drive sourcecontinuously drives selected ones of the lower support wheel members tomove the plastic card along the card transport path between cardoperation locations. A controller responds to a control signal bydriving a selected one of the lower support wheel members adjacent afirst one of the card operation locations to move the plastic card alongthe card transport path from that first one of the card operationlocations to an adjacent one of the continuously driven lower supportwheel members, and so the plastic card is transported to a second one ofthe card operation locations. A signal source provides the controlsignal as needed. Preferably, a lower guide extends along a portion ofthe card transport path and cooperates with the lower support wheelmembers to retain the lower edge of the plastic card on the lowersupport wheel members. Preferably, also, the upper retaining member is aplurality of upper wheel members.

The plastic card inspection system includes a plurality of lower supportwheel members, upper retaining means, and a drive source as in theplastic card transport apparatus. In the plastic card inspection system,the card operation locations include a card input location, a cardinspection location, a first card output location, and a second cardoutput location. A plastic card input supply provides plastic cards tothe card input location. First and second card receivers receive plasticcards from the first and second card output locations. A card inspectiondevice inspects the plastic cards at the card inspection location andprovides an inspection signal indicative of the results of theinspection. A card input means adjacent the card input location respondsto the inspection signal by inputting a plastic card from the card inputlocation to an adjacent one of the continuously driven lower supportwheel members so that the inputted plastic card is transported to thecard inspection location for inspection. A first control meansresponsive to each inspection signal drives a first selected one of thelower support wheel members, adjacent the card inspection location, tomove the inspected plastic card along the card transport path from thecard inspection location to an adjacent one of the continuously drivenlower support wheel members, moving the inspected plastic card along thecard transport path to the first card output location. A first carddischarging means, adjacent the first card output location, responds tothe inspected plastic card being transported to the first card outputlocation following an inspection signal indicative of a first inspectionresult by discharging the inspected plastic card from the card transportpath to the first card receiver. A second control means responds to aninspection signal indicative of a second inspection result by driving asecond selected one of the lower support wheel members, adjacent thefirst card output location, to move the inspected plastic card along thecard transport path from the first card output location to an adjacentone of the continuously driven lower support wheel members, moving theinspected plastic card along the card transport path to the secondoutput location. A second card discharging means, adjacent the secondcard output location, responds to the inspected card being transportedto the second card output location following an inspection signalindicative of the second inspection result by discharging the inspectedplastic card from the card transport path to the second card receiver.

When the card inspection simply determines whether each plastic card hasmet certain criteria or not, the first and second card receiversseparate cards that have passed the inspection and cards that havefailed the inspection. If the inspection is to separate cards into morethan two groups in response to inspection signals indicative of morethan two types of inspection results, then the card transport apparatusextends to one or more additional card output locations, each of whichis provided with a card discharging means and a card receiver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention are moreapparent from the following detailed description and claims,particularly when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a plastic card inspection systemin accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front plan view of a plastic card transport apparatus inaccordance with the present invention, suitable for incorporation intothe plastic card inspection system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4A is an enlarged fragmentary view of one component on the cardtransport apparatus of FIG. 2 when in a first condition;

FIG. 4B is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to FIG. 4A, but showingthe component in a second condition;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a card output hopper suitable for use inthe plastic card inspection system of FIG. 1 in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view showing a portion of the plasticcard output hopper of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a representative manner of operation of theplastic card inspection system of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 depicts in block diagram form a plastic card inspection system inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Plasticcards to be inspected are stacked in input tray 10 which includes abiasing arm or other means for urging the cards toward card inputlocation 12. A picker 14 picks one card at a time from card inputlocation 12 and feeds the card to card transport apparatus 16 in whichthe card is transported to a card inspection location 18. The card isthen inspected by a digital camera 20, such as a DVT 7000 SeriesSmartimage Sensor made by DVT Corporation of Norcross, Ga, and variousparameters of the card are compared with data within a memory in power,electronics, and control unit 22. The card is then transported to afirst card output location 24. If the comparison shows that the cardmeets specified inspection criteria, then stacker 26 discharges the cardby ejecting the card to a first output hopper 28. On the other hand, ifthe comparison shows that the card does not meet the specifiedinspection criteria, or that the card meets a second set of inspectioncriteria, then the card transport apparatus 16 transports the card on toa second card output location 30, and stacker 26 discharges the card byejecting the card to a second output hopper 32. When the plastic cardinspection system is inspecting newly manufactured plastic cards todetermine whether they are acceptable, for example whether theirsurfaces are clean and their writing, logo, hologram, magnetic strip,signature panel, bar code and other features are clean and proper, thenfirst output hopper 28 might be a pass hopper and second output hopper32 a fail hopper, as indicated in FIG. 2. Cards that pass the inspectionare ejected by stacker 26 to pass hopper 28, while cards that fail theinspection are ejected to fail hopper 32. Picker 14, card transportapparatus 16, digital camera 20, and stacker 26 are controlled by power,electronics, and control unit 22.

FIGS. 2 and 3 depict a preferred form of a card transport apparatus 16.Back plate 40 has mounted on it a lower card support unit 42 and anupper card retaining unit 43. Lower card support unit 42 includes aplurality of support wheels depicted in FIG. 2 as eighteen supportwheels 44a-44s, each of which is rotatably attached to a first elongatedsupport bar 46 by a support shaft 48. Each wheel 44 has acircumferential groove 50 into which cards to be inspected fit. Thus,when a card 52 is supported in the card transport apparatus 16, the cardis supported in the grooves 50 of one or more of the wheels 44.

Preferably, a transparent guide member 54 is attached to the supportshafts 48 outward of wheels 50 and includes an inturned flange 56 whichextends toward backplate 40 and cooperates with a flange 58 that ismounted on the top surface of support bar 46 to extend toward the flange56. Guide member 54 can be held on the support shafts 48 by a retainingbar 57 and by retaining clips 59 which are clipped on the support shafts48. Flange 58 can be mounted on support bar 46 by an adhesive or othersuitable means. As seen in FIG. 2, outer guide member 54 extends fromlower support wheel 44a to lower support wheel 44j, and because guidemember 54 is transparent, it does not prevent camera 20 from inspectingany area of card 52.

Lower card support unit 42 is preferably mounted on back plate 40 byadjustable mounting members 61 which permit minor adjustment of thevertical position of the lower card support unit.

Upper card retaining unit 43 includes an upper mounting bar 60 and alower mounting bar 62 which cooperate with a plurality of side mountingmembers 63 to mount a plurality of bogey wheel assemblies, depicted inFIG. 2 as seven bogey wheel assemblies 64a-64g. Each bogey wheelassembly 64a-64g includes a support block 65, which is mounted in avertically movable manner between two of the side mounting members 63,and a spring 66 which biases the support block toward lower mounting bar62. Each support block 65 rotatably supports two bogey wheels, FIG. 2thus depicting fourteen bogey wheels 67a-67o. Preferably, an end bar 68bridges the output ends of lower card support unit 42 and upper cardretaining unit 63 to assure that cards 52 do not fall off the end ofcard transport apparatus 16.

As each plastic card 52 is transported on card transport apparatus 16,the plastic card is supported on lower support wheels 44a-44s and isretained on the apparatus by the cooperation of groove 50 in the lowersupport wheels 44a-44s, flange 56 on transparent guide member 54, flange58, and bogey wheels 67a-67o. Thus, as depicted by plastic card 52 inFIG. 2, when the lower edge of the card is resting in the grooves 50 ofwheels 44, the upper edge of the card acts on the pair of bogey wheels67 of one of the bogey wheel assemblies 64 above the card to raise thatbogey wheel assembly 64 and its wheels 67 against the urging of itsspring 66. This helps hold the lower edge of the plastic card 52 in thegrooves 50 of the lower support wheels 44. Each bogey wheel assembly64a-64g is raised in turn as the card is transported along cardtransport apparatus 16, while those bogey wheel assemblies not beingraised by the card are biased downwardly by their springs 67.

A drive unit 72 causes the plastic cards to be transported along thecard transport apparatus 16. Drive unit 72 includes a drive wheel 74which is continuously rotated by appropriate drive means, such as anelectric motor (not shown), driven wheels 76 and 78 at the two ends ofdrive unit 72, first and second belt positioning wheels 80 and 82, firstand second drive control assemblies 84 and 86, and tensioning wheels 88.A drive belt 90 passes around this assemblage of wheels as depicted inFIG. 2 to rotate all those wheels.

Wheels 76 and 80 of drive unit 72 are positioned to hold the segment ofbelt 90 that passes between those two wheels against the adjacent lowercard support wheels 44a-44e of lower card support unit 42 so that solong as the motor is rotating drive wheel 74, belt 90 causes wheels44a-44e to continuously rotate to transport cards. Likewise, wheel 82 ispositioned to cause drive belt 90 to continuously rotate the pair ofwheels 44i and 44j adjacent lower card support wheel 82. In like manner,wheel 78 positions drive belt 90 to continuously rotate lower cardsupport wheels 44o and 44p that are adjacent wheel 78.

A plastic card to be transported is fed into the card transportapparatus 16 from picker 12 until the card contacts lower support wheel44a adjacent wheel 76. Since wheels 44a-44e are being continuouslydriven, they transport the card along the card transport apparatusbeyond wheel 44e. As the card comes to each of the bogey wheelassemblies 64a-64c, the support block 65 of that bogey wheel assembly isurged upwardly against the biasing of its spring 66. However, when thecard moves from lower support wheel 44e, the card is no longer beingdriven. Consequently, the card comes to rest with its upper leading edgeadjacent bogey wheel 67g, as depicted in FIG. 2, since there isinsufficient force to move the card beneath wheel 67g and raise thesupport block 65 of bogey wheel assembly 64d against the urging of itsspring 66. In this card position, the upper trailing edge of the card 52is adjacent bogey wheel 67d, as also depicted in FIG. 2. The card isthus positioned in the card inspection location 18.

The card 52 is then inspected by camera 20, and power, electronics, andcontrol unit 22 generates an inspection signal indicative of the resultsof the inspection. By way of example, if the rear surfaces of the cardsare being inspected as to placement and quality of a magnetic strip, asignature panel, and/or a bar code area, then the inspection signal canindicate whether these features on the card are satisfactory or not, andalso whether the rear surfaces are clean. Similarly, if the plasticcards are being sorted into several categories, the inspection signalcan indicate the category to which the inspected plastic card belongs.

When this inspection signal is generated, indicating that the inspectionby camera 20 has been completed, first drive control assembly 84 isactivated to forward the card from card inspection station 18, andpicker 12 is activated to introduce another card to card transportapparatus 16. FIGS. 4A and 4B are enlarged views of first drive controlassembly 84, which includes a wheel 92 that is rotatably mounted on oneend of an arm 94, the second end of which is pivotably mounted on backplate 40. A solenoid 96 is mounted on back plate 40 and has its armconnected to pivotable arm 94 so that when the solenoid is notactivated, as in FIG. 4A, wheel 92 is withdrawn from drive belt 90, andso the drive belt does not drive the adjacent lower support wheels 44gand 44h. When solenoid 96 is activated, as in FIG. 4B, wheel 92 ispushed against drive belt 90 to bring the drive belt into contact withlower support wheels 44g and 44h, causing those wheels to rotate. Seconddrive control assembly 86 is similarly made adjacent lower supportwheels 44m and 44n. Driving of lower support wheels 44g and 44h drivesthe card 52 along the card transport apparatus to continuously drivenlower support wheels 44i and 44j which continue to drive the card untilthe trailing edge of the card clears wheel 44j. The card is thenpositioned on lower support wheels 44k, 44m, and 44n at first cardoutput location 24.

If the card has passed the inspection, then power, electronics, andcontrol unit 22 activates stacker 26 to eject the card to card passhopper 28. However, if the card has failed the inspection, then stacker26 is not activated, but instead power, electronics, and control unit 22activates the solenoid 96 of second drive control assembly 86 to raiseits arm 94 and wheel 92, bringing drive belt 90 into contact with lowersupport wheels 44m and 44n, causing those wheels to rotate. The card isthen driven further along the card transport apparatus by wheels 44m and44n and continuously driven lower support wheels 44o and 44p. When thetrailing edge of the card clears wheel 44p, the card rests on lowersupport wheels 44q, 44r, and 44s, which are not driven. The card is thenpositioned at the second card output location 30. End plate 68 assuresthat the card does not fall from the end of lower card support unit 42,but instead comes to rest on wheels 44q, 44r and 44s. Power,electronics, and control unit 22 then activates stacker 26 to eject thecard to card fail hopper 32. Guide member 54, with its flange 56,extends only to wheel 44j so that cards can be ejected at first cardoutput location 22 and second output location 28.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, picker 12 includes a picking finger 102 whichextends through an opening 104 in back plate 40 to a position adjacentthe trailing edge of the forward-most card in input tray 10 at cardinput location 12. When power, electronics, and control unit 22activates picker 14, a finger 102 is moved by a motor, solenoid, orsimilar mechanism to push that forward-most card 52 toward continuouslydriven lower support wheel 44a of card transport apparatus 16 (to theright in FIG. 2).

Stacker 24 includes a pair of pusher plates 106, one adjacent each ofthe card output locations 24 and 30. When power, electronics, andcontrol unit 22 determines that a plastic card is to be ejected at firstcard output location 24, and the card reaches that location, unit 22activates a motor, solenoid, or similar mechanism (not shown), which ispositioned behind back plate 40 at location 24, to extend a rod 108 thatpasses through an opening 110 in the back plate, causing the pusherplate 106 at location 24 to push the plastic card from card transportapparatus 16 to pass output hopper 28. Likewise, if power, electronics,and control unit 22 determines that the plastic card is to be ejected atsecond card output location 30, once the card has arrived there unit 22activates the mechanism for that output location, extending its rod 108through its opening 110, and so causing the pusher plate 106 for thatlocation to eject the card to fail output hopper 32.

FIGS. 5 and 6 depict a tray 110 suitable for use as pass output hopper28. Tray 110 includes a lower surface 112 and first and second sidesurfaces 114. The input end 116 of tray 110 is opened to receive cardsejected to the pass output hopper by stacker 26. FIG. 5 depicts theopposite end 118 of tray 110 open; however, that end can be closed by anend surface, if desired.

The interior surface of each side surface 114 is covered with a layer offiber material 120, for example, a material having fibers extending atsubstantially 90° degrees from the side surfaces 114 with the fibersspaced about 10/1000 inch apart and a depth of pile of about 3/16 inch.

As plastic cards are pushed into hopper 28 by stacker 26, each card isheld in a substantially vertical position by the fibers of the twolayers of material 120 on the two sides 114 of the tray, as depicted byplastic card 52 in FIG. 5. Generally, the cards are alignedsubstantially perpendicular to the sides 114 of tray 110, as shown byplastic card 52a in FIG. 6. However, even if one side of the card isadvanced relative to the opposite side, as depicted by plastic card 52bin FIG. 6, nevertheless, the card is held substantially vertically bythe fibers 120 and subsequent cards align themselves behind that firstcard. As a consequence, once a group of cards has been ejected into thetray 110, the cards can readily be grasped and lifted together from thetray.

If desired, a similar tray can be used for fail output hopper 32.However, if the failed cards are to be discarded, then it is notnecessary that they be aligned when removed from the output hopper, andso the layers of fiber material 120 might be omitted.

The fiber material 120 is preferably a nylon fabric such as might beused as a paint edger. Any other material having suitable fibers mightlikewise be used, for example, a thin layer of carpet or artificial turfor similar material.

While it is believed that the operation of the plastic card inspectionsystem is clear from FIG. 2 and its description, FIG. 7 is a flow chartof that operation as controlled by power, electronics, and control unit22. When the plastic card inspection system is activated to start theinspection in step S0, picker 14 inputs a card in step S1, and that cardis transported by card transport apparatus 16 to card inspection station18 in step S2. Camera 20 then inspects the card in step S3. In step S4it is determined whether the card passed the inspection. If so, the cardis transported to first card output station 24 in step S5, and then thecard is ejected to pass output hopper 28 in step S6. If the card did notpass the inspection, then from step S4 the card is transported to thesecond card output station 30 in step S7, and in step S8 the card isejected to fail output hopper 32.

Following inspection of the card in step S3, it is determined in step S9whether there are more cards at card input location 12 awaitinginspection. If so, then the flow returns to step S1 to inspect the nextcard. If there are no more cards awaiting inspection, then once step S10determines that the last card has been outputted to either pass outputhopper 28 or fail output hopper 30, the process is ended in step S11.

When the plastic card inspection system classifies the cards into twogroups, such as pass and fail, then two output stations and two outputhoppers can be utilized. If the inspection system classifies theinspected cards into more than two groups, then an output station and anoutput hopper are provided for each group. In that event, step S4 mightbe broken down into sub-steps to determine the proper classificationgroup for each inspected card, and the process includes a step oftransporting and outputting, similar to steps S5 and S6 and steps S7 andS8, for each group.

It is thus seen that the present invention provides a plastic cardtransport apparatus in which the plastic cards are transported whilecontacted only by their edges, and a plastic card inspection systemutilizing such a plastic card transport apparatus in which the plasticcards are discharged at a card output location selected from a pluralityof card output locations on the basis of the inspection results.

Although the present invention has been described with reference topreferred embodiments, still various alterations, rearrangements, andsubstitutions might be made, and still the result would be within thescope of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A plastic card transport apparatus, comprising:a pluralityof lower support wheel members positioned with their circumferentialsurfaces aligned to define a card transport path having a plurality ofcard operation locations therealong, for supporting a plastic card by alower edge thereof as the plastic card is transported along the cardtransport path from a first one of the card operation locations to asecond one of the card operation locations; upper retaining meanspositioned above said plurality of lower support wheel members to engagean upper edge of the plastic card and cooperating with said plurality oflower support wheel members to retain the plastic card supported on saidlower support wheel members as the plastic card is transported along thecard transport path; a drive source for continuously driving a selectedplurality of said lower support wheel members to move the plastic cardalong the card transport path between card operation locations; controlmeans responsive to a control signal for driving a selected one of saidlower support wheel members, adjacent a first one of the card operationlocations, to move the plastic card along the card transport path fromsaid first one of the card operation locations to an adjacent one ofsaid continuously driven lower support wheel members, to transport theplastic card to a second one of the card operation locations; and asignal source for providing the control signal to said control means. 2.A plastic card transport apparatus as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising a lower guide member extending along at least a portion ofthe card transport path to retain the lower edge of the plastic card onsaid lower support wheel members.
 3. A plastic card transport apparatusas claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper retaining means comprises aplurality of upper wheel members.
 4. A plastic card transport apparatusas claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said lower support wheel memberscomprises a wheel having a card retaining groove circumscribing itsperipheral surface for receipt of the lower edge of the plastic cardtherein.
 5. A plastic card transport apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein:said drive source comprises an endless belt, means for causingsaid endless belt to contact said selected plurality of said lowersupport wheel members, and a drive wheel for continuously driving saidendless belt; and said control means comprises a pivotable arm memberhaving an end normally spaced from said endless belt and said selectedone of said lower support wheel members, and a means responsive to thecontrol signal for pivoting said pivotable arm member to move saidpivotable arm member end against said endless belt and bring saidendless belt into contact with said selected one of said lower supportwheel members to drive said selected one of said lower support wheelmembers.
 6. A plastic card transport apparatus as claimed in claim 5,wherein said pivoting means comprises a solenoid.
 7. A plastic cardinspection system, comprising:a plurality of lower support wheel memberspositioned with their circumferential surfaces aligned to define a cardtransport path to support a plastic card by a lower edge thereof as theplastic card is transported along the card transport path, the cardtransport path having defined therealong a card input location, a cardinspection location, a first card output location, and a second cardoutput location; upper retaining means positioned above said pluralityof lower support wheel members to engage an upper edge of the plasticcard and cooperating with said plurality of lower support wheel membersto retain the plastic card supported on said lower support wheel membersas the plastic card is transported along the card transport path; adrive source for continuously driving a selected plurality of said lowersupport wheel members to move the plastic card along the card transportpath; a plastic card input supply for supplying plastic cards to saidcard input location; a first card receiver for receiving plastic cardsfrom the first card output location; a second card receiver forreceiving plastic cards from the second card output location; a cardinspection device for inspecting plastic cards at the card inspectionlocation and providing an inspection signal indicative of results of theinspection; card input means adjacent the card input location andresponsive to the inspection signal for inputting a plastic card fromthe card input location to an adjacent one of said continuously drivenlower support wheel members, to transport the inputted plastic card tothe card inspection location for inspection; first control meansresponsive to the inspection signal for driving a first selected one ofsaid lower support wheel members, adjacent the card inspection location,to move the inspected plastic card along the card transport path fromthe card inspection location to an adjacent one of said continuouslydriven lower support wheel members, to transport the inspected plasticcard to the first card output location; first card discharging meansadjacent said first card output location and responsive to the inspectedplastic card being transported to said first card output locationfollowing an inspection signal indicative of a first inspection result,for discharging the inspected plastic card from said card transport pathto said first card receiver; second control means responsive to aninspection signal indicative of a second inspection result for driving asecond selected one of said lower support wheel members, adjacent thefirst card output location, to move the inspected plastic card along thecard transport path from the first card output location to an adjacentone of said continuously driven lower support wheel members, totransport the inspected plastic card to the second card output location;and second card discharging means adjacent said second card outputlocation and responsive to the inspected plastic card being transportedto said second card output location following an inspection signalindicative of the second inspection result, for discharging theinspected plastic card from said card transport path to said second cardreceiver.
 8. A plastic card inspection system as claimed in claim 7,further comprising a lower guide member extending along at least aportion of the card transport path to retain the lower edge of theplastic card on said lower support wheel members.
 9. A plastic cardinspection system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said upper retainingmeans comprises a plurality of upper wheel members.
 10. A plastic cardinspection system as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of said lowersupport wheel members comprises a wheel having a card retaining groovecircumscribing its peripheral surface for receipt of the lower edge ofthe plastic card therein.
 11. A plastic card inspection system asclaimed in claim 7, wherein:said drive source comprises an endless belt,means for causing said endless belt to contact said selected pluralityof said lower support wheel members, and a drive wheel for continuouslydriving said endless belt; and said control means comprises a pivotablearm member having an end normally spaced from said endless belt and saidselected one of said lower support wheel members, and a means responsiveto the control signal for pivoting said pivotable arm member to movesaid pivotable arm member end against said endless belt and bring saidendless belt into contact with said selected one of said lower supportwheel members to drive said selected one of said lower support wheelmembers.
 12. A plastic card transport apparatus as claimed in claim 11,wherein said pivoting means comprises a solenoid.
 13. A plastic cardinspection system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first cardreceiver comprises an elongated tray having a bottom surface and firstand second side surfaces, with a layer of fiber material on each sidesurface to hold plastic cards discharged to said first card receiver ina substantially vertical position and substantially aligned one behindanother.
 14. A plastic card inspection system as claimed in claim 13,wherein said fiber material has fibers extending at substantially 90°from said side surfaces, with said fibers spaced in the order of about10/1000 inch apart and a depth of pile in the order of about 3/16 inch.